Microbial toxicity and bioreduction of antimony under anaerobic conditions

Desarrollo de un método de caracterización de las distintas especies solubles del antimonio con sus posibles interferencias a causa del medio de cultivo. Después se procedió al testeo de bioreducción de anilimonio con distintos lodos para observar en que forma quedaba el antimonio a lo largo del cultivo, su evolución temporal y si había cambiado en el estado de oxidación. Finalmente desarrollamos un nuevo método usando un acople entre HPLC y un ICP-OES para medir el antimonio soluble en los bioensayos realizadosDepartamento de Ingeniería Química y Tecnología del Medio AmbienteGrado en Ingeniería Químic

Evaluation of different pretreatments for water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) with subsequent anaerobic digestion

Durante esta investigación se sugiere la digestión anaerobia (DA) para el tratamiento de E. crassipes ( una planta acuática invasiva) por la producción de metano y su bajo consumo energético. Debido a la presencia de lignina, hemi-celulosa y celulosa, la DA es limitada por la hidrólisis. Esto implica que un pre-tratamiento es necesario.Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Tecnología del Medio AmbienteMáster en Ingeniería Ambienta

Evaluación de la significación estadística y cálculo del intervalo de confianza de la razón de mortalidad estandarizada

ResumenLa razón de mortalidad estandarizada (RME) es la razón entre el número de muertes observadas (D) y el número de muertes esperadas (E), tomando como base las tasas de mortalidad de una población de referencia. En el análisis de la RME han sido propuestos varios tests para la evaluación de su significación estadística y para el cálculo de sus intervalos de confianza.En el presente estudio, donde se han calculado las RME de dos causas de muerte en 27 distritos sanitarios de Castilla-La Mancha, la significación estadística de las diferentes RME se ha valorado mediante un test que utiliza la probabilidad exacta de Poisson y mediante cuatro tests que usan aproximaciones normales a Poisson: 1) cálculo de un estadístico Z basado en la asunción de que una variable de Poisson con media E tiene un error estándar √E; 2) estadístico Z con corrección de continuidad; 3) estadístico Z basado en la transformación de la variable en su raíz cuadrada; y 4) estadístico Z creado por Byar como aproximación al test exacto. Se han obtenido, igualmente, los intervalos de confianza mediante el método exacto y mediante tres métodos aproximados; 1) el de Byar; 2) el basado en el estadístico Z no corregido; y 3) el que se basa en la raíz cuadrada de una variable de Poisson.Los resultados obtenidos con los métodos exactos y con el método Byar son muy similares, por lo que se recomienda la utilización de este último como práctica rutinaria, tanto para la evaluación estadística de una RME, como para el cálculo de sus intervalos de confianzaSummaryThe standardized mortality ratio (SMR) is the ratio of the number of deaths observed (D) to the number expected (E), on the basis of the mortality rates of some reference population. Several procedures have been proposed inorder to test its significance and to estimate its confidence intervals.In this study, the SMR of two causes of death in 27 healths areas of Castilla-La Mancha have been calculated. The significance has been evaluated by exact Poisson test and by four methods approximating the Poisson distribution by the normal: 1) a Z statistic based on the assumption that a Poisson variate with expectation E has a standard deviation equal to √E; 2) the Z statistic with a continuity correction; 3) a Z statistic based on the square root transformation of a Poisson variable and 4) an approximation of the exact test by Byar. Also, theconfidence intervals have been estimated by exact method and by three approximate procedures: 1) by Byar; 2) by Z statistic uncorrected and 3) by the square root transformation of the Poisson distribution.With the exact methods and Byar procedure the results were very similar; therefore, using the last to testing significance and estimate the confidence intervals of SMR, is suggested

Desigualdades sociales en salud. Un análisis de la mortalidad por las principales causas de muerte en España y Francia, 1988-1990

The objective of this study was to compare social inequalities in mortality by main causes of death in Spain and France during the 1988-90 period. In both Spain and France mortality in the manual workers category was always higher than that of the rest of the occupational groups for all causes. Farmers presented an intermediate level of mortality between professionals and managers and manual workers. The mortality of manual workers was 1.89 times higher than that of professionals and managers in Spain, and 1.67 higher in France. In Spain the greatest difference between the mortality of manual workers and professionals and managers was observed in accidents and respiratory diseases; in France, the greatest differences were observed in digestive diseases and respiratory diseases.El objetivo de este artículo es comparar las desigualdades sociales en la mortalidad por las principales causas de muerte en España y en Francia durante el período 1988-90. Tanto en España como en Francia, la mortalidad en el grupo de trabajadores manuales es más alta que la mortalidad en el resto de los grupos ocupacionales para todas las causas de muerte analizadas. Por su parte, los agricultores presentan una mortalidad intermedia entre los profesionales y directivos y entre los trabajadores manuales. Los trabajadores manuales tienen una mortalidad 1,89 veces más alta que los profesionales y directivos en España y 1,67 veces más alta en Francia. En España, las mayores diferencias entre la mortalidad de trabajadores manuales y la mortalidad de profesionales y directivos se observa en accidentes y en las enfermedades del aparato respiratorio; por su parte, en Francia, las mayores diferencias se observan en las enfemiedades del aparato digestivo y en las enfermedades del aparato respiratorio

Influencia del lugar de origen en la utilización de pruebas de cribado de cáncer ginecológico en España

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between geographic origin and the use of screening cervical smears and mammograms. METHODS: Data was obtained from the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey that included 13,422 females over 16 years of age. The dependent variable was use of screening mammograms and cervical smears in the past 12 months. The measure of association (odds ratio and its related 95% confidence interval) was estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: African women were 0.36 (95% CI 0.21,0.62), Eastern European 0.40 (95%CI 0.22;0.74), Western European, American and Canadian 0.60 (95%CI 0.43,0.84), and Central and South American 0.64 times (95%CI 0.52, 0.81) less likely to undergo a mammogram compared with the general population of Spain. In regard to cervical cancer screening, Eastern European women were 0.38 (95%CI 0.28,0.50), African 0.47 (95%CI 0.33,0.67) and Western European, American and Canadian 0.61 times (95%CI 0.46, 0.81) less likely to undergo cervical smears. These associations were independent of age, socioeconomic condition, health status and health insurance coverage. CONCLUSIONS: Immigrant women use less screening programs than native Spanish women. This finding may suggest difficult access to prevention programs.OBJETIVO: Analizar la asociación entre el área geográfica de procedencia en el uso de las citologías y la mamografía. MÉTODOS: Los datos analizados proceden Encuesta Nacional de Salud de España-2006 dirigida a población mayor de 16 años. La Encuesta incluye 13.422 mujeres. Las variables dependientes fueron realización de una mamografía y de una citología vaginal, ambos en los últimos 12 meses. La medida de asociación fue el odds ratio con intervalo de confianza al 95% calculado por regresión logística. RESULTADOS: Tomando como referencia la población española, la probabilidad de realizarse una mamografías entre las mujeres procedentes de África fue 0,36 (IC95% 0,21;0,62) veces menor; Europa del Este 0,40 (IC95% 0,22;0,74) veces menor; Europa Occidental, EEUU y Canadá, 0,60 (IC95% 0,43; 0,84) veces menor y América Central / Sur 0,64 (IC95% 0,52;0,81) veces menor. En relación a la prevención de cáncer de cervix, probabilidad de realizarse una citología entre las mujeres Europa del Este fue 0,38 (IC95% 0,28;0,50) veces menor que la población española, África 0,47 (IC95%:0,33;0,67) veces menor y Europa Occidental, EEUU y Canadá 0,61 (IC95% 0,46;0,81) veces menor. Dichas asociaciones fueron independientes de la edad, indicadores socioeconómicos, estado de salud y cobertura sanitaria. CONCLUSIONES: Las mujeres inmigrantes hacen menor uso de los programas de cribado que las mujeres autóctonas. Este dato podría reflejar dificultades de acceso a los programas preventivos

Mortality in working-age population during the Great Recession and austerity in Spain

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mortality trend in Spain before, during and after the economic crisis and austerity policies in the working-age population. METHODS: From 2005 to 2016 we calculated the annual all-cause mortality rate and the annual mortality rate from the main causes of death in the population aged 15 to 64. We also estimated the linear trends in mortality rates during four time intervals-2005-2007 (before crisis), 2008-2010 (first part of the crisis), 2011-2013 (second part of the crisis and implementation of austerity policies) and 2014-2016 (after the crisis)- by the annual percentage change (APC). RESULTS: The all-cause mortality rate in men and women showed the greatest decline in 2008-2010 and the smallest decline in 2014-2016. The decline in 2011-2013 was higher than in 2014-2016. The APCs in 2005-2007, 2008-2010, 2011-2013 and 2014-2016 were -2.8, -4.1, -3.0 and -1.5 in men and -1.0. -2.1, -1.1 and -0.6 in women, respectively, although the APC in 2014-2016 in women was not significant. In 2014-2016, cancer mortality showed the largest decrease, mortality from cardiovascular diseases (men), respiratory diseases and traffic accidents reversed and showed an upward trend, and the downward trend in mortality from infectious diseases and digestive diseases was equal to or greater than that observed before the crisis. CONCLUSION: The decline in all-cause mortality in the working-age population during the economic crisis and the introduction of austerity measures was greater than that observed before and after the economic crisis. The slowing of the decline after the crisis was due to the reversal of the trend in mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/00455) and the European Regional Development Fund.S

Erosion of universal health coverage and trend in the frequency of physician consultations in Spain

Background: We studied the frequency of physician visits in the native and immigrant populations in Spain before and after implementation of a governmental measure to restrict the use of public healthcare services by undocumented immigrants beginning in 2012. Methods: Data were taken from the 2009 and 2014 European Health Surveys carried out in Spain. We investigated any physician consultation in the last 4 weeks before the interview, as well as visits to a family physician, public specialist physician and private specialist physician. We estimated the frequency of visits in 2009 and in 2014 in the native and immigrant populations and the difference in the frequency between the two populations, by calculating the percentage ratio estimated by binomial regression and adjusted for different confounders that are indicators of the need for assistance. Results: The percentage of persons who consulted any physician in 2009 and 2014 was 31.7 and 32.9% in the native population, and 25.6 and 30.1% in the immigrant population, respectively. In the immigrant population, the frequency of visits to the general practitioner and public specialist physician increased, whereas in the native population only public specialist physician visits increased. The frequency of private specialist visits remained stable in both populations. After adjusting for the indicators of need for healthcare, no significant differences between the immigrant and native populations were seen in the frequency of visits, except for private specialist consultations, which were less frequent among immigrants. Conclusion: The restriction of universal healthcare coverage in Spain did not reduce the frequency of physician visits between 2009 and 2014, as the frequency of these consultations was seen to increase in both the native and immigrant populations.This study was supported by a grant from the “Plan Estatal de I + D, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain (no. CSO2017–83180-P)

総説

Background National estimates on per capita alcohol consumption are provided regularly by various sources and may have validity problems, so corrections are needed for monitoring and assessment purposes. Our objectives were to compare different alcohol availability estimates for Spain, to build the best estimate (actual consumption), characterize its time trend during 2001–2011, and quantify the extent to which other estimates (coverage) approximated actual consumption. Methods Estimates were: alcohol availability from the Spanish Tax Agency (Tax Agency availability), World Health Organization (WHO availability) and other international agencies, self-reported purchases from the Spanish Food Consumption Panel, and self-reported consumption from population surveys. Analyses included calculating: between-agency discrepancy in availability, multisource availability (correcting Tax Agency availability by underestimation of wine and cider), actual consumption (adjusting multisource availability by unrecorded alcohol consumption/purchases and alcohol losses), and coverage of selected estimates. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken. Time trends were characterized by joinpoint regression. Results Between-agency discrepancy in alcohol availability remained high in 2011, mainly because of wine and spirits, although some decrease was observed during the study period. The actual consumption was 9.5 l of pure alcohol/person-year in 2011, decreasing 2.3 % annually, mainly due to wine and spirits. 2011 coverage of WHO availability, Tax Agency availability, self-reported purchases, and self-reported consumption was 99.5, 99.5, 66.3, and 28.0 %, respectively, generally with downward trends (last three estimates, especially self-reported consumption). The multisource availability overestimated actual consumption by 12.3 %, mainly due to tourism imbalance. Conclusions Spanish estimates of per capita alcohol consumption show considerable weaknesses. Using uncorrected estimates, especially self-reported consumption, for monitoring or other purposes is misleading. To obtain conservative estimates of alcohol-attributable disease burden or heavy drinking prevalence, self-reported consumption should be shifted upwards by more than 85 % (91 % in 2011) of Tax Agency or WHO availability figures. The weaknesses identified can probably also be found worldwide, thus much empirical work remains to be done to improve estimates of per capita alcohol consumption.The authors are grateful to Kathy Fitch for translation. This work was supported by Spanish Health Research and Development Strategy (PI13/00183; PI15CIII/00022), National Plan on Drugs (2015I040). Writing of the paper was also partially supported by a grant of the National Plan on Drugs (Res. 8-7-15. Secretaría de Estado de Servicios Sociales e Igualdad) to the Alcohol Work Group of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology.S